Continuous clothesline construction



June 15, 1954 H. G. LASSEN 2,681,206

CONTINUOUS CLOTHESLINE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 23, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR. Hans Gasiau Zczsserz.

flziorrzgy J1me 1954 H. e. LASSEN CONTINUOUS CLOTHESLINE CONSTRUCTION 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 23, 1 .952

Patented June 15, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTINUOUSCLOTHESLINE GONSTRUOTION 12 Claims.

This invention relates to continuous clothes lines.

An object of the invention is to provide a continuous clothes lineinstallation in which the likelihood of fouling of the line isminimized.

Another object is to provide an improved sheave unit for acontinuousclothes line.

An additional object is to provide novel means for connecting the tworopes of a continuous clothes line.

A further object is to provide an improved endless clothes line.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as thedescription vpoceeds.

The invention will be better understood upon reference to the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a broken elevational view of a clothes line installationembodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the left part of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view taken as indicated by the line 3 3 in Fig. .2,with some parts shown in section.

Fig. 4. is a sectional view taken as indicated by the line 4- in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken as indicated by the line 55in Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is similar to Fig. 2 but shows the clothes line engaged with thelower sheave.

Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 1 but shows both end supports, alike.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, disclosing illustrativefeatures of the invention, there is shown a pair of sheave units H3 anda clothes line unit [2 adapted to besupported thereby, one sheave unitbeing suspended from a hook is attached directly to a post 16 or othersupport, and the other sheave unit being suspended from guy ropes,wires, cables or the like It and 28, connected to hooks 22 Se cured to asecond support It, as shown in Fig. 1, or directly from a hook 14attached to a support [5, as shown in Fig. 7. Inasmuch as line units I!of the type here involved may be generally purchasable only in standardlengths, the supports IS in most cases, very likely, will be so spacedapart as to require the use of adjustable means, such as guy ropes orthe like, to suspend one of the sheave units.

Each sheave unit if? comprises a pair of sheaves 2-4 and 26 which may beof the same diameter but are preferably or different diameters, thelarger sheave 24 in practice being disposed over and preferably inclinedabout 19 to the smaller one. I provide a U-shaped hanger bracket 28having a long arm as and a short arm 32, with its long arm-over theupper face 34 of the larger sheave 2 B and its short arm under the lowerface .38 of said sheave, and pass a screw 38 through the long arm andthe center of the sheave and thread the lower end of the screw in atapped hole in the short arm, the remainder it of the screw being smoothand serving as an axle journal for said sheave. Washers 42? arepreferably arranged about the screw 38 above and below the larger sheave2d, and a substantially semi-circular plate 34 is secured by said screwand disposed between the long arm 38 and the upper washer and is furthersecured to said arm as at 6 and has a peripheral downwardly inclinedflange 48 which extends peripherally beyond, and toward the plane of,the upper face 3d of the larger sheave. The longer bracket arm 39 has anouter end portion 52 projecting beyond the plate 44 and across themedian plane (represented by the dot-dash line 54) or" the larger sheave2d and has a hole 56 whose rearrnost lower edge portion 53 lies slightlybe low said plane.

The short arm 32 of the bracket 23 has an extension 58 over the upperface 62 of the smaller sheave 25, and a substantially L-shaped bracketas has a leg 65 secured as at 58 to the bight It of the bracket 28, andits other leg 72 underlies the lower face 74 of the smaller sheave. Ascrew F5 is passed through the leg 2'2 and the center of the smallersheave 2t and threaded into a tapped hole in the extension it, the majorportion is of the screw being smooth and serving as an axle journal forthe smaller sheave. Washers 86 are preferably provided about the screw76 at the faces 62 and i i of the smaller sheave 26. The screw itextends at an acute angle to the screw 33, and the rearmost edge portion53 of the hole 5% lies slightly below the median plane (indicated by thedot-dash line ill?) of the smaller sheave 25.

Referring more particularly to the right portion of Fig. l, the guyelement 13 is looped at its inner end 8 3 through the bracket hole 56 ofthe adjacent sheave unit It, and the guy element 26 is looped at itsinner end 86 through the eye as of a bolt 98 having an offset endportion 52 passing through the bracket extension 52 and secured thereatas by nuts as.

The clothes line unit i2 comprises a pair of hemp, plastic, wire-coredplastic or other suitable endless upper and lower ropes we and H22, thelower rope being preferably of somewhat greater length than the upperrope, and the ropes being connected in substantially or generallyuniformly spaced relation by a series of preferably rigid uniformlyspaced ties or couplings ass. Each coupling ms is preferably formed ofan elongated strip of sheet metal or other suitahie stiff material whichmay have a reinforcing rib H35 therealong and is obtusely bent as at N33to provide a short arm it Q and a long arm 2 E 2, with free end portionsI M and 1 i8, formed so as to be wrapped and crimped tightly about andto the respective ropes Hill and H32 in non slip relation thereto, sothat, when the upper rope is supported by the pulley units it), as willappear, the couplings support the lower rope with the lower rope dippingsomewhat between couplings, said dipping being of course more pronouncedwhen the lower rope supports clothes.

As is well known, a rope or the like freely suspended at its endsextends in the curve of a catenary, substantially as indicated in thedrawings. The dip of the ropes is of course increased when supportingclothes. Figs. 1, 2, 3 and show an assembly with the upper rope wesupported by the upper pulleys 2 3, the lower rope H32 being the one onwhich clothes are to be hung. it is possible, due either to theaccidental wedging of clothes between the upper rope its and the uppersheave 24, while the rope is being pulled, or to the operators pullingthe upper rope downward while pulling it circumferentially about theupper sheave, that the rope will work down oi? the sheave. in suchevent, the rope it?) will immediately slip into and engage in the lowersheave 26, and the line unit 22 will continue to operate properly eventhough it is engaged with a larger sheave 2d at one end and a smallersheave at the other end. The likelihood that the rope too will slip outof any of the sheaves is minimized, however, by virtue of the fact thateach sheave unit H3 is self-aligning, being universally pivotable aboutthe point 58 of engagement of the unit with the hook or hooks it, andwith the guy loop 85.

as the case may be. Accordingly each sheave unit is automaticallyaccommodates itself to the pull and direction of pull of the upper ropeltd, so that said rope tends to remain in the grooves of the sheaveswith which it is first engaged.

The lower sheave of each sheave unit I6 is preferably disposedsubstantially within the cylindrical envelope of the upper sheave 2 i,and the sheaves of each unit are arranged so that that portion of theupper flange 82 of the lower sheave which is most proximate to theadjacent bracket hole 58 is adjacent and is preferably overlapped bythat portion or" the lower flange 36 of the upper sheave which is mostproximate to said hole.

Upon engagement of the rope I85) in the groove of the lower sheave 25,the rope will tend to remain thus engaged just as it tends to remain inengagement with the upper sheave 25,, the sheave units it? then, asbefore, pivoting relative to the hooks Hi, or the hook and loop 8 5,respectively, and the pivot portions 58 of the sheave units beingrespectively disposed slightly below the median planes 5:; and as of thesheaves 2t and 28, respectively, so that the rope constantly bearsagainst the upper flange of the sheave with which it is engaged and thustends to resist dislodgment therefrom.

The housewife, upon discovering that the upper rope Hli! has becomeengaged with one or both of the lower sheaves 26, can work the rope backinto the upper sheaves 2 if she so desires.

It will be noted that the hole 56 of each bracket 28 is made oversize sothat each sheave unit H) is freely swingable through a large angle aboutan axis extending longitudinally of the catenary and passing through thebracket pivot portion 58, so that the rope It!!! will not tend to pullout transversely of the sheaves with which it is engaged during winds ofnormal or usual strength. When only one side of the lower rope N32 isloaded, the weight of the clothes will tilt both sheave units lil, butthe oversize bracket holes 55 permit such tilting so that alinement ofthe upper rope I99 and the sheaves engaged thereby is not jeopardizedand thus there is no danger of escape of the rope from the sheaves undersuch circumstances.

Due to the fact that the median plane of each upper sheave 24 is abovethe pivot point 58, the upper rope I99 as noted above bears against theupper flange 34 of said sheave and at times the bearing pressure andfriction may be sufficient to cause the rope to work up oft" the upperflange. The shield 44 serves as a safeguard to prevent such escape ofthe upper rope "it.

In a like manner, the lower flange 3B of the upper sheave 2t performsthe same function for the sheave 2B.

The free ends of the flange portion 58 of the shield 44 are flared as atI26 to avoid abrasion of the upper rope Hill.

Also, when only one side of the lower rope IE2 is loaded, there is atendency of the couplings I04 to pass over the upper sheave 24 and lockthe line against further movement. Such fouling is prevented inaccordance with the invention by the longer leg E6 of each bracket strapas, said leg extending such a distance that the couplings will engagesaid leg and be cammed down into proper position so that the line i2 canbe moved.

It will be observed that the couplings lee, being cent as above noted,do not interfere with the sheaves, the upper eyes lid of the couplingsconstituting in effect spaced portions of the upper rope.

By reason of the above noted disposition of the bracket swivel portions58, the pull oi-the upper rope Eel), regardless of whether engaged withthe larger sheaves 2:; or the smaller sheaves 2%, is always directed soas to tend to swing the sheave units in downward and thus to maintainthe rope in the grooves in which they are engaged.

Various modifications may suggest themselves to those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of my invention. Hence I do not wishto be restricted to the specific forms shown or uses mentioned, exceptto the extent indicated in the appended claims, which are to beinterpreted as broadly as the state of the art will permit.

I claim:

1. In a continuous clothes line sheave assembly adapted to be suspendedfrom a hook, a sheave, and a bracket structure on which said sheave isrotatably mounted, said bracket structure having an extension beyondsaid sheave, a second sheave of substantially smaller diameter than thefirst sheave and rotatably mounted on said bracket structure, saidextension having a hook-engaging swivel portion slightly offset from andat the same side of the median planes of the grooves of said sheaves,said planes defining an acute dihedral angle, the axes of said sheavesbeing coplanar, the smaller sheave being arranged substantially withinthe cylindrical envelope of the larger sheave and with a point on itsperiphery adjacent a point on the periphery of the larger sheave.

2. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line, said unit comprising anupper sheave, a lower sheave of smaller diameter than and inclined toand substantially tangent to, and disposed within the cylindricalenvelope of, said upper sheave, and means journaling said sheaves insaid relation, said means comprising a bracket structure having asuspension hook-engaging swivel portion spaced from said sheaves andslightly below the median planes of said sheaves and lying in a planewhich is normal to said median planes and contains a diameter of each ofsaid sheaves.

3. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line,

said unit comprising an upper sheave, a lower sheave of smaller diameterthan an inclined about to and substantially tangent to, andsubstantially disposed within the cylindrical envelope of, said uppersheave, and means journaling said sheaves in said relation, said meanscomprising a bracket structure having a suspension hook-engaging swivelportion spaced from said sheaves and slightly below the median planes ofsaid sheaves and lying in a plane which is nor- Trial to said medianplanes and contains a diameter of each of said sheaves.

4. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line, said unit comprising apair of sheaves acutely inclined and substantially tangent to eachother, and means journaling said sheaves in said relation, said meanscomprising a bracket structure having a swivel portion adapted to bearon a suspension hook, said portion being spaced from said sheaves anddisposed slightly to one side of both of the median planes of saidsheaves and lying in a plane which is normal to said median planes andcontains a diameter of each of said sheaves.

5. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line, said unit comprising apair of sheaves inclined about 10 and substantially tangent to eachother, and means journaling said sheaves in said relation, said meanscomprising a bracket structure having a suspension hookreceiving holespaced from said sheaves, the portion of the wall of said hole adaptedto bear on the hook being disposed slightly to one side of both of themedian planes of said sheaves and lying in a plane which is normal tosaid median planes and contains a diameter of each of said sheaves.

6. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line, said unit comprising apair of sheaves acutely inclined and substantially tangent to eachother, and means J'ournaling said sheaves in said relation, said meanscomprising a bracket structure having a swivel portion adapted to bearon a suspension hook, said portion being spaced from said sheaves anddisposed slightly to one side of both of the median planes of saidsheaves and lying in a plane which is normal to said median planes andcontains a diameter of each of said sheaves, said bracket structureextending across the sheave peripheral portions most remote from saidhole.

7. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line, said unit comprising apair of sheaves acutely inclined and substantially tangent to eachother, and means journaling said sheaves in said relation, said meanscomprising a bracket structure having a swivel portion adapted to bearon a suspension hook, said portion being spaced from said sheaves anddisposed slightly to one side of both of the median planes of saidsheaves and lying in a plane which is normal to said median planes andcontains a diameter of each of said sheaves, said bracket structureextending in one direction across that peripheral portion of one of saidsheaves which is most remote from said hole and in the oppositedirection across and a substantial distance beyond that peripheralportion of the other sheave which is most remote from said hole, for thepurpose described.

8. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line, said unit comprising anupper sheave, a lower sheave of smaller diameter than and inclined toand disposed within the cylindrical envelope of said upper sheave, thelower rim of said upper sheave being disposed adjacent and overhangingthe proximate portion of the upper rim of said lower sheave, and meansjournaling said sheaves in said relation.

9. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line, said unit comprising anupper sheave, a lower sheave of smaller diameter than and inclined toand disposed within the cylindrical envelope of said upper sheave, thelower rim or" said upper sheave being disposed adjacent and overhangingthe proximate portion of the upper rim of said lower sheave, meansjournaling said sheaves in said relation, and a shield secured to saidmeans and overhanging substantially one-half of the outer periphery ofsaid upper sheave above the location at which the lower rim of saidupper sheave overhangs said lower sheave.

10. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line, said unit comprising anupper sheave, a lower sheave acutely inclined to and disposed within thecylindrical envelope of said upper sheave, the lower rim of said uppersheave being disposed adiacent and overhanging the proximate portion ofthe upper rim of said lower sheave, means j ournaling said sheaves insaid relation, and a shield secured to said means and overhangingsubstantially one-half of the outer periphery of said upper sheave abovethe location at which the lower rim of said upper sheave overhaings saidlower sheave, the ends of the overhanging portion of said shield beinginclined upward.

11. A sheave unit for a continuous clothes line, said unit comprising anupper sheave, a lower sheave inclined to and disposed within thecylindrical envelope of said upper sheave, the lower rim of said uppersheave being disposed adjacent and overhanging the proximate portion ofthe upper rim of said lower sheave, means journaling said sheaves insaid relation, a shield secured to said means and overhangingsubstantially onehalf of the outer periphery of said upper sheave abovethe location at which the lower rim of said upper sheave overhangs saidlower sheave, and fender means supported by said journaling means andprojecting away from said upper sheave in a position to prevent the ropeof an endless dualrope clothes line supported by one of said sheavesfrom swinging accidentally upward over said fender, whereby to preventfouling of the clothes 12. A sheave unit for a continuous dual-ropeclothes line, said unit comprising an upper sheave, a lower sheaveinclined to and disposed within the cylindrical envelope of said uppersheave, the lower rim of said upper sheave being disposed adjacent andoverhanging the proximate portion of the upper rim of said lower sheave,means journaling said sheaves in said relation, a shield secured to saidmeans and overhanging substantially onehalf of the outer periphery ofthe upper rim of said upper sheave above the location at which the lowerrim of said upper sheave overhangs said lower sheave, and fender meanssupported by said journaling means and projecting away from said sheavesand disposed to prevent excessive accidental upward swinging of theclothes-supporting rope of the clothes line regardless whether the upperrope of the clothes line is engaged with the upper sheave or with thelower sheave.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 859,812 Harness July 9, 1907 1,152,775 Wiebke Sept. 7, 19151,607,477 Potter Nov. 16, 1926 1,780,708 Horscraft et a1 Nov. 4, 19302,489,971 Mitchell Nov. 29, 1949

